Air foil flying device with multiple-stage lift areas



United States Patent [72] Inventor Louis J. Clark 840 Nightingale Ave.,Miami Springs, Fla. 33166 [21] Appl. No. 819,612 [22] Filed April 28,1969 [45] Patented Dec. 15, 1970 [54] AIR FOIL FLYING DEVICE WITHMULTIPLE- STAGE LIFT AREAS 7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl. 244/154 [51] 1nt.Cl B64c31/06 [50] Field of Search244/153, 154, 12, 23: 46/(lnquired) [56] References Cited UNlTED STATESPATENTS D17l,327 l/l954 Gould 244/153X 1,734,493 11/1929 Knott 244/1532,483,614 10/1949 Benson.... 244/153 2,588,293 3/1952 Roe 244/153Primary Examiner-Milton Buchler Assistant Examiner--Paul E. SaubererAttorney-John Cyril Malloy ABSTRACT: A tethered flying device in whichan annular torus-shaped wing includes lateral dihedral and forward liftsectors defining a primary lift area and a rear horizontal stabilizerarea in which a depending vertical stabilizer extends longitudinallybeneath a central opening covered by a supplemental tunnel-formingelement defining a secondary lift area disposed above the horizontalstabilizer area.

PATENTED 11m 51978 3547384 w VE/U TOR. LOU/S a. CL HRK H TTORA/EX AIRFOIL FLYING DEVICE WITH MULTIPLE-STAGE LIFT AREAS This invention relatesgenerally to an improved tethered device i.e. a kite-type apparatus, andin which an improved torus-shaped airfoil, supplemental lift andvertical stabilizer are provided.

Tethered, aerodynamically sustained craftof the kite type have beenheretofore produced in the prior art and these devices have simulatedmany conventional shapes i.e. airplanes, birds and the like.Additionally, kites in the past have been produced from plasticmaterials such as polyurethane foam or the like.

Primary objects of the present invention are:

to provide a novel airfoil including primary and supplemental liftsectors;

to provide a novel airfoil in which a torus-shaped wing includes adihedral and nose sector defining a primary lift area, a trailingportion at another angle providing a horizontal stabilizer, a verticalstabilizer depending below the airfoil and along its longitudinal axis,and a secondary lift area defined by a tunnel-forming elemcnt overlyingthe central aperture of the airfoil and in essentially trailingrelationship with respect to the horizontal stabilizer; to provide anovel airfoil as set forth above in which the tunnel-forming elementdefines a pair of arcuate tunnel elements merging in a supplementalvertical stabilizer at the upper edge of said depending stabilizer.

These, together with other objects and advantages, will become apparentfrom a consideration of the following description of an exemplaryembodiment when taken in conjunction with the drawing forming a partthereof, and in which:

IN THE DRAWING FIG. I is a perspective view of the novel airfoil;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view; 1

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view;

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view;

FIG. 5a is a side elevation illustrating the general attitude of theairfoil when initiallylaunched; and

FIG. 5b is a view similar to FIG. 50 showing the general attitude of theairfoil after it-assumes its general flying attitude.

Before referring to the drawing in detail, the airfoil of the presentinvention is particularly adapted for use as a kite, however, propulsionmeans could apparently be utilized. Preferably the airfoil, when used asa kite, is produced from styrofoam or the like, however, other materialscould be use.

Referring to FIG. 5a the airfoil is indicated generally at and portions12 and l4of a tether-line bridle are respectively connected to theforward or nose portion of the air foil and an intermediate portion ofthe vertical stabilizer, and at their in- Y tersection 16 are connectedto a tether-line 18. Assuming that the force of the wind isapproximately 5 to. 6 miles per hour, the tether-line 18 will be atapproximately 35 with respect to the horizon, and the air will generallyassume the paths indicated at A, B and C. As the wind velocity increasesup to 10 to 20 miles per hour, the tether-line 18 will assume an angleof approximately 80 with respect to the horizon and the wind asindicated at A, B and C; this causes the airfoil to rise substantiallyvertically i.e. ascend at approximately 75 to 80, and at times almost at90 depending upon the wind velocity.

and 24, and at a lesser angle than the nose section 26, is a trailingsector 30 defining the horizontal stabilizer for the air foil. Ifdesired, although not shown, the horizontal stabilizer 30 can beprovided with aluminum foil trim tabs or the like to provide variationsin the flying attitude of the device. Additionally, as previouslymentioned above, supplemental power means such as an elastic-band motoretc. (pusher or puller type) could be utilized with the airfoil of theinvention.

Depending from the undersurface of the airfoil 20 along the centerlineand longitudinal axis thereof if a vertical stabilizer 32 which isessentially triangular and diverges from the trailing edge of the nosesector 26 below and beyond the horizontal stabilizer 30. I

Overlying the central aperture 28 in an arc of substantially 180, andsuitably sealed thereat, is a tunnel-forming element 34 which divergesupwardly and outwardly above and beyond the horizontal stabilizer 30.The tunnel-forming element defines a secondary or supplemental liftarea. In the preferred embodiment, the tunnel-forming element 34comprises two arcuate sections 36 and 38 which are concavo-convexmerging'to form a supplemental secondary vertical stabilizer 40extending into and merging with the upper edge of the verticalstabilizer 32; see FIG. 4.

Although not shown, the tunnel-forming element 34 can also be appliedover the central aperture '28, in the same general angular attitude asshown in FIGS. 5a and b for example, but formed only as a singletunnel-forming a supplemental or secondary lift area.

Briefly in review, the air foil or tethered kite is essentially ashallow truncated or frustoconical shaped disc having a central aperturethrough which air will pass and engage the undersurface of asupplemental lift area. The primary lift area comprises lateral sectors22 and 24 in conjunction with the forward or nose sector, 26 and thetrailing part of the disc 30 comprises the horizontal stabilizeror-elevator". Supplemental lift tabs can be incorporated on thehorizontal stabilizer.

It will be observed that many tethered flying devices are relativelyheavy at the top or forward end. in the present invention, when used, asa tethered flying device, the weighted rear end of the flying device isheavier than the forward end i.e. the airfoil is weighted aft and thesupplemental lift area causes the device to rise substantiallyvertically.

The actual flying attitude of the device when tethered is illustrated inFIGS. 5a and 5b, at initial .launching it ascends with the tether-lineat approximately 35 with respect to the horizon, and rapidly reaches anangle of 80,and when the fly- Referring to FIGS. 1-4 the airfoil ortethered kite as indicated generally at 10 comprises a truncated orfrustoconical primary wing 20 which is essentially torus-shaped i.e.having'a "doughnutlike"configuration. The primary-wing 20 includeslateral, angularly related sectors 22 and 24 which define a dihedralangle with respect to the center line or longitudinal axis of the wingor airfoil. The airfoil 20 also includes a forward, upwardly angled nosesector 26 which combines the sectors 22 and 24 to provide the primarylift area of the airfoil.

As previously mentioned, the airfoil 20; see HO. 3, is torusshaped andhas a substantially centrally located aperture 28 thereth'rough.Rearwardly of the dihedrally related sectors 22 ing device is retrieved,it tends to descend generally overhead and at substantially with respectto the horizon.

The device can be used as a kite for amusement of children, for example;however, is particularly practical as a rescue signal device and/or toelevate an emergency radio antenna, since it can be readily launched atrelatively low wind velocities due to the multilift areas whichsupplement each other.

i claim: i. A tethered flying device comprising:

a body member of a relatively light sheet material having a longitudinalaxis; said body member having a substantially annular, torus wing havingangularly disposed, lateral sectors defining a dihedral angle relativeto the longitudinal axis of the body member;

said annular wing including a forward, upwardly angled nose sectordefining with said lateral sectors a primary lift area;

said wing including a trailing, upwardly angled sector disposed at alesser angle than said nose sector and comprising a horizontalstabilizer, a vertical stabilizer depending beneath said body memberalong said longitudinal axis;

said wing including a substantially central aperture; and

a tunnel element overlying the central aperture of said wing and closinga forward portion thereof;

said tunnel element projecting above said trailing sector and defining asecondary lift area downstream of and supplementing said primary liftarea.

2. A flying device as set forth in claim 1 in which said verticalstabilizer is essentially triangular and diverges angularly from theforward nose sector rearwardly ben'eath said trailing sector.

3. The structure as claimed in claim 1 in which said tunnel element isarcuate and defines at least one tunnel above said horizontal stabilizerand opening rearwardly.

4. A flying device as set forth in claim 1 in which said tunnel elementincludes a medial secondary vertical stabilizer portion having asubstantially V-shaped cross section and terminating at and integralwith the upper edge of said vertical stabilizer extending diametricallyabove the central aperture of said wing.

5. The structure as claimed in claim 4 in which said tunnel elementdefines two lift-tunnels flanking said secondary vertical stabilizer.

6. The structure as claimed in claim 5 in which said two lifttunnels arearcuate.

7. in a flying device, an airfoil:

said air foil being substantially annular and having a torusshapeincluding angularly disposed, lateral sectors defining a dihedral anglerelative to the longitudinal axis of said airfoil;

said airfoil including a forward. upwardly angled nose sector definingwith said lateral sectors a primary lift area;

said airfoil including a trailing. upwardly angled sector disposed at alesser angle than said nose sector and comprising a horizontalstabilizer;

a vertical stabilizer depending beneath said body member and along saidlongitudinal axis;

said airfoil including a substantially central aperture through whichair will pass and beneath which said vertical stabilizer extendsdiametrically; and

a tunnel element overlying said central aperture of said air foilenclosing a forward portion of said aperture;

said tunnel element projecting above said trailing sector and defining asecondary lift area downstream of and supplementing said primary liftarea.

